John Chrysostom

Abstract

When John Chrysostom preaches on the topic of spiritual gifts, he does so from a context prior to modern charismatic developments. His concerns and pastoral goals differ from modern ones shaped by the charismatic waves. Much of Chrysostom’s theology cannot be separated from the homilies in which it is communicated. An evaluation of how Chrysostom approaches the spiritual gifts must also take the homiletic context of that approach into consideration. This study looks at two homilies on First Corinthians, which have gifts as their primary focus. The thesis of this study is that Chrysostom sees the Spirit’s gift-giving as a revelatory event. The Spirit uses the gifts to show the newfound friendship between God and humans through Christ. The gifts also have a pedagogical function. The Spirit uses them to teach Christians how to live a life of love in God, which is to look for the common benefit. Thus, from their gifts Christians learn to reciprocate God’s kindness by being generous towards others. In so doing, the gifts become a means of progressing in the deifying life of God.